pitz gerald



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. H. FITZ GERALD.

MANUFACTURE OF WATGH o sn CENTERS.

No. 353,930.. Patented Dec. '7, 1886.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. FITZGERALD. MANUFACTURE OF WATCH CASE CENTERS.

No. 353,930. Patented Dec. 7. 1886.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W, H. PITZ GERALD.

MANUFACTURE OF WATCH CASE CENTERS.

No. 353,930. Patented Dec. 7, 1886.

UNIT D STATES WVALIER H. FITZ GERALD,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MANUFACTURE OF WATCH-CASE CENTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353,930, dated December 7, 1886.

(No model.)

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LWALTER H. FITZ GER- ALD, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and in the State of New York, have invented certain newand useful Improvementsin the Manufacture of \Vatch Case Centers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my casecenter before being provided with hinge-rabbets. Fig. 2 is a like view of the same after being provided with the hinge-rabbets and operated upon by the beveling-dies. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of said part after the hinges are in place. Fig. 4 is a like view of the holder or lower die for said case-center. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the bevelingdie, and Fig. 61s a side elevation of said holder and die and avertical cross-section of said case-center in position between the same.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

In the construction of filled watch-cases it is customary to cut the hingerabbets within the center and to bevel the sides of the contiguous metal after said center has been completed other than the knurling or oruamenting of its periphery,by which means the fine metal of the surface is removed and the base-metal filling exposed, the result being that in the completed case there is at each hinge a part of the center which is not plated or covered by the fine metal and which will quickly tarnish. To remedy this defect the part thus exposed has been "afterward plated, but as it is not practicable by such means to exactly match the covering of the other portions of the case,

the appearance of the part so treated is but little if any better than when the filling has been left exposed.

The design of myiuvention is to enable the hinge-bevel to be formed upon a case-center without removing or injuring the previouslyformed surface; and to this end said invention consists. principally, in the method of forming the beveled face adjacent to each hinge-rabbet of a watch-case center by compressing the metal at such point between dies, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

It consists, further, in the method of adapthinge by first forming the beveled faces by compressing the metal at such point between dies and then milling or cutting within one side of the same a rabbet that is adapted to receive and contain the hinge-tube, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown.

It consists, further, in the method of forming watch-case centers by first forming a ring having the desired diameter and having in cross-section a convex exterior; next, in forming thereon beveled faces by compressing the metal between dies, and, lastly, cutting within one side of such ring or case-center a rabbet that is adapted to receive and contain a hingetube, substa ntially as and for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

"It consists. finally, in the construction and combination of the dies used, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter shown and described.

In the carrying of my invention into practice I employ a case-center blank, A, which is preferably constructed by dies from sheet metal, and in cross-section has a convex exterior and a correspondiugly-concave interior. The case-center thus shaped is placed upon an anvil or die, B, that substantially conforms in cross-section to the like interior form of said part and circumferentially within the same has alength of about onehalf inch. Said die is suitably supported upon a base, 0, so as to enable said casecenter to be suspended therefrom, as shown. The case-center A being thus in position upon the anvil-die B, a second die, D, having a V-shaped groove, d, within its lower facejs caused to impinge upon the upper portion of the convex periphery of said casecenter, so as to form upon such portion two inclined or beveled faces, a, one of which is upon each side of said center. The portions of said lower die that are immediately beneath said faces a are correspondingly beveled, so as to cause the metal of said case-center to be solidly compressed between the same and the sides of the groove (1 and the exact shape desired to be given to said faces a. Immediately below each of the beveled faces a there is now out a rabbet. a, for the reception of the hingetubes B, whirhlatter are secured in place in the usual manner, after which the periphery ing a watch-case center for the reception of a of the case'center is knurled or otherwise ornamented. If desired, such ornamentation may be produced before said rabbets are "cut.

The operation of forming the beveled faces in no manner disturbs or displaces the finemetal covering, and said faces are as fully protected as is any other portion of said casecenter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is' 1. The method of forming the beveled face adjacent to each hinge-rabbet of a watch-case center,which consists in compressing the metal at such point between dies, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The method of adapting awatch-case center for the reception of a hinge, which consists in first forming the beveled faces by compressing the metal at such point between dies and then milling or cutting within one side of the same a rabbet that is adapted to receive and contain the hingeTtube, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

3. The method of forming watch-case centers,which consists,first, in' forming a ring having the desired diameter and having in crosssection a convex exterior; next, in forming thereon beveled faces by compressing the metal between dies; and, lastly, cutting within one side of such ring or case-center a rabbet that is adapted to receive and contain a hinge-tube, substantial] y as and for the purpose set forth.

4. As an improvement in mechanism for the manufacture of watch-case centers, the anvildie B, adapted to fit within the interior of the case-center, in combination with the die D, provided with the V- shaped groove 01, substantially as and for the purpose shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I havehereunto set my hand this 27th day of March, A. D.'1886.

WALTER Witnesses:

J AY W001), J. W. FITZ GERALD.

H. FITZ GERALD. 

